The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team scored a 4-3 win over The Citadel at the Champions Club today. The Mocs won the doubles point and the first three singles match to even their overall record at 5-5.
Junior Pablo Llebeili led the way with wins in singles and doubles. He teamed with freshman Luke Plaisted to score a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles. Llebeili followed that up with a (6-4, 6-2) straight-sets win over Matthew Henson at No. 3. That victory clinched the match as Llebeili improved to 3-2 at No.
3 in the spring.
"This was a match where everyone had a role in getting this team victory," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher. "The doubles point was key with No. 2 and No. 3 picking it up."
Sophomore Niklas Gerdes was first off the court, cruising to a (6-2, 6-1) win over Noah Nawabi at No. 1 singles. Gerdes is now 6-3 at No. 1 in the spring and 13-8 overall. Fellow sophomore Simon Bustamantealso had a smooth (6-2, 6-1) win over Willim Van Zyl at No. 2.
"I cannot say enough as our most experienced kids stepped up at 1,2, and 3 singles," added Merzbacher. "We needed them and they just took care of their courts. That's a team win. Very proud of this group."
Up next for the Mocs is a home match against Montreat on Friday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. at McCallie's Strang-Voges Tennis Center.
Chattanooga 4, The Citadel 3
Feb 23, 2018 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Champions Club)
Doubles competition
1. Gavin Stewart/Noah Nawabi (CIT) def. Simon Bustamante/Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-2
2. Pablo Llebeili/Luke Plaisted (UTC) def. Jack Pyritz/Roy Hobson (CIT) 6-3
3. Jacob Marshall/Cooper Long (UTC) def. Will Graham/Trey Davis (CIT) 6-2
Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Noah Nawabi (CIT) 6-2, 6-1
2. Simon Bustamante (UTC) def. Willem van Zyl (CIT) 6-2, 6-1
3. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) def. Matthew Henson (CIT) 6-4, 6-2
4. Gavin Stewart (CIT) def. Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-1, 7-5
5. Jack Pyritz (CIT) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Roy Hobson (CIT) def. Cooper Long (UTC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1